''Sutras'' is the nineteenth studio album (22nd overall) by Scottish singer/songwriter

Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter, and record producer. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelic rock and world mus ...

. It was released in the UK ( American Recordings 74321 39743 2) and the US (American Recordings 43705) on 14 October 1996. The US version does not contain the final track, "The Garden".

History

By the mid-1990s, the CD reissues of Donovan's 1960s albums and the '' Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964-1976''

boxed set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

reacquainted his fans with his music. These releases also introduced him to newer generations, which helped rebuild his fan base. The success of

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

's '' American Recordings'' album prompted producer

Rick Rubin Frederick Jay Rubin (; born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer. He is the co-founder (alongside Russell Simmons) of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records. Rubin helped popula ...

to search for other artists who would benefit from the same model. While in the studio with

Tom Petty Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the lat ...

, Rubin mentioned that he would like to work with Donovan. Petty suggested that he call Donovan, which he did. Donovan agreed to have Rubin produce his next album, and prepared over one hundred songs for the recording sessions. The sessions were to feature sparse instrumentation, much like the sessions that made Cash's ''American Recordings'' such a success. Rubin insisted that Donovan listen to the folk material that Donovan recorded for

Pye Records Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherhoo ...

in 1964 and '65 for inspiration. The recording sessions commenced in 1995 with mixing of the song "El Dorado" in Los Angeles by

Sylvia Massy Sylvia Lenore Massy is an American record producer, mixer, engineer, instructor and author. Massy is renowned for her multifaceted production/mixing and engineering skills, with her first major breakthrough occurring with 1993's '' Undertow'', th ...

. The deeply meditative ''Sutras'' was released late the following year. ''Sutras'' received mixed reviews and failed to achieve the kind of commercial success Cash's ''American Recordings'' had. Donovan did not receive a longer contract, and ''Sutras'' became his only collaboration with Rubin; it is now out of print in the US. Yet for all its lack of commercial success, ''Sutras'' galvanized Donovan's fan base by reestablishing him as a current artist releasing new material. The internet in particular served a vital role in uniting his fans after the release of ''Sutras''. Donovan paid close attention to this movement, and spent the next five years reorganizing his business around the internet to better reach his fans. ''Sutras'' can be seen as one of his most coherent solo efforts, since his creative period shortly after learning Transcendental Meditation and the period he spent in India with

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

(1967–71).

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted. The US version of ''Sutras'' retained the same track sequence, but deleted the last song on the album ("The Garden"), making it a fourteen-track album.

Original UK release

#"Please Don't Bend" – 4:14 #"Give It All Up" – 3:09 #"Sleep" (

Traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

; arranged by Donovan) – 2:47 #"Everlasting Sea" – 3:33 #"High Your Love" – 2:31 #"The Clear-Browed One" – 3:20 #"The Way" – 2:16 #"Deep Peace" (Donovan, MacLeod, Walton) – 3:11 #"Nirvana" – 3:31 #"

Eldorado El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king o ...

" (Words by

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

; music by Donovan) – 3:06 #"Be Mine" – 3:28 #"Lady of the Lamp" – 3:53 #"The Evernow" – 4:09 #"Universe Am I" – 4:46 #"The Garden" – 2:51 credits from allmusic.com

Credits

References

External links

''Sutras'' – Donovan Unofficial Site
*https://www.allmusic.com/album/sutras-mw0000612224/credits {{Authority control Albums produced by Rick Rubin Donovan albums 1996 albums American Recordings (record label) albums